Across Asian cultures, the arrival of spring is celebrated with vibrant festivals. Similarly, Tomb Sweeping Day, known as Qingming Festival in China, is a traditional holiday deeply rooted in Chinese culture, dating back over 2500 years. This annual event, typically observed on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, usually falls on April 4th or 5th. This year, it is on April 4th.
What Is Qingming Festival?
On this day, Chinese people honour their ancestors with respect. They accomplish this by going to and maintaining their graves. The festival is regarded as one of the most significant events in the Chinese calendar and has been celebrated for more than 2,500 years. But hanshi jie, or the Cold Food Festival, is where the festival’s modern practices come from.
The Cold Food Festival was a day to commemorate the death of Jie Zitui, a loyal retainer of Duke Wen of Jin. Legend has it that during a period of strife, Jie Zitui followed his master into exile and saved him by providing him with meat from his leg. After Duke Wen ascended to the throne, he forgot about Jie Zitui’s sacrifice until many years later when he remembered and felt remorse. In honour of Jie Zitui’s loyalty and sacrifice, Duke Wen declared that the anniversary of his death would be a day of mourning and remembrance. This eventually evolved into the Qingming Festival.
The traditions connected to the Cold Food Festival later became a part of the Qingming Festival since it often took place one or two days before Qingming
Also Read: China Has A Viral Soup Dumpling That’s Taking Taste Buds By Storm; Enter Ru Yuan’s Culinary Marvel!
How Is It Celebrated?
Tomb-sweeping is the most significant Qingming Festival custom. Families will pay respects and clean their ancestors’ graves. As a result, they get rid of any waste or weeds that have gathered throughout the year. As a gesture of respect, they will also provide food, flowers, lit a candles, and other things. The burning of joss paper is another significant habit. This kind of paper is burned in remembrance of the deceased. It is believed that the offerings will be transported to the hereafter by the smoke from the burning paper, where the departed might utilise them. Another significant tradition associated with Qingming is the flying of kites. This practice is believed to have originated from ancient Chinese beliefs that kite flying could drive away evil spirits and bring good luck.
The most well-liked is Qingming cake. It is a sticky rice cake stuffed with beef, lotus seed paste, and red bean paste, among other contents. Cold rice balls are a popular meal as well. The ingredient is glutinous rice. Rice balls are traditionally served cold with sweet bean paste.
Cover image credits: Flickr